Angels still remaining on FSB tree

Kim Hodges, left, and Pam Johnson with the First State Bank of Athens Angel Tree.

By Michael V. Hannigan/HCNow

There are still 43 angels left on the First State Bank of Athens Angel Tree and time is running out. The tree benefits the foster kids of Henderson County.

You can help by visiting the bank, selecting an angel and and returning new, unwrapped gifts by Monday, Dec. 11 (the number of gifts and amount spent is up to you).

The tree started with 256 angels, and while all the children are from Henderson County they are spread across the state and some are even in foster homes out of state. That’s because Henderson County has more foster needs than can be accommodated here.

Kim Hodges of First State Bank, who is a member of the Henderson County Child Welfare Board, said Henderson County ranks third in the nation for number of foster children per capita.

“That’s why our collection deadline is so early, because we have to get the gifts transported,” she said. “These kids are not only going to be not home for Christmas, but the majority of them are with people they don’t really know.”

The deadline is Monday, Dec. 11, which means there are only a couple of days left to help the remaining angels.

“We’ve done whatever it takes to get those angels off the tree,” Hodges said, adding she’s even faxed angels to people who call.